Uneasy– that would be the word in which Naeva would use to describe how the other’s speech ends up making her feel. To see the other avoiding her gaze, of keeping the ‘stranger’ nameless, and speaking of how his words would later turn out to be lies– the sage does not need another second to piece together that this woman was, in fact, kidnapped by her husband at such a young age. Apologising for a small and insignificant village being destroyed, and all of its inhabitants killed? Validar would never have genuinely done such a thing, no– even without hearing those words coming from his lips, she knows them to be nothing more than lies; an attempt to manipulate a child who had just lost their home. Still, the mother cannot help but to wonder why he would do such a thing– why he would take captive a little girl, and one who has no connections to himself or her? Yes, perhaps Aversa does look frighteningly like what one would expect a child between the two of them to, however she doubts that such a thing would be the sorcerer’s only reason.
Perhaps it is the aura that radiates from this stranger– one possessed by most that possess some sort of magical prowess?
Even so, it does not fully satisfy the sage’s desire for a proper answer. It all seems so very unlike him.
“…Why are you here, exactly?”
The question escapes from red lips slowly, as though the mother, herself, does not truly wish to hear the answer– to have her fears confirmed, and told that this girl happens to be fromthat village she so foolishly ran through twenty years ago; that the dark flier’s kidnapping was partially her fault.
“I do not believe that one would wish to see the wife of their kidnapper, let alone speak to her… and I cannot yet undo the hex my husband inflicted upon you,”
Yes– he must have done something akin to that. Her words imply that she cannot completely remember the events leading up to encountering the sorcerer– Validar, Naeva thinks, must have cast some sort of curse onto the girl in an attempt to seal away her memories, or maybe even alter them. That sounds like something her husband would have done, especially if he sought to make the female nothing more than a puppet who would manipulate others when honeyed words and false promises failed to work. Pale hands tighten their grip on an ornate staff, and as brown eyes focus themselves on the other’s visage once more, the slightest of frowns dares to form, not creating an aggressive look, but instead one of a more thoughtful variety.
One that wishes to piece together every single detail of this puzzle, no matter how hazily the other might recall each part.
“Is there more to your story, perhaps? Your eyes betray the shallowness of what you have spoken. I have met many a pawn of Validar’s before… So what is it that makes you any different?”
"different? at what point did I mention myself to be different from the average pawn, aside from a frail awareness? No, I wasn't different from any other, just a bit more useful than most. As for why I'm here now, I figured if I am still a citizen of Plegia I should keep up to date on the politics-" Aversa's gaze turned to the nearby guards as she emphasized her next point, "-Even if I have no interest in being a part of it again."
As for more to the story- oh yes, Aversa had plenty more to the story. However, she had to start from the beginning, did she not? and skipping over dull details only seemed natural. "however I suppose if you want more, I can tell more. turns out I always had a talent for the magical arts, enough so he could see it even when I knew nothing- and considering I then had nowhere else to go took it upon himself to shape me into the perfect tool- magically gifted, swift, cunning, and blindly loyal- after all, what cause would I have had to turn against the only father figure that was left? even when I found myself invaluable, even when I knew I could simply be thrown away I had nothing else and nowhere else- so I simply stayed and obeyed. I figured it least that could be done for the man who saved me, and raised me, however shitty that upbringing was.”
"do I need go into every detail of that life, such as the rigorous traing and pushing, the calls for manipulate tactics-” to emphasis this point Aversa twirled a bit of hair around with a nail, as if aloof or flirting, “or are you strictly interested in the things done to have your staff on edge at the sight of me?” her smile held a face of confidence- one that hid the discomfort of being so honest about who she was.